The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-26
EMMA AnRorr TALKS.
Attacked Again by a Minister in Memphis,
She Defends Her Profession.

Attacked Again by a Minister in Memphis,
She Defends Her Profession.
Atlanta Constitution
| Pretty Emma Abbott PLAYED in Memphis
| Monday and Tuesday nights of this week to :re-
mendous houses. On Sunday morning. a Rev.
Mr.. Erwin of that place. attacked her violently
from the pulpit In an interview with an Ava
lanche reporter she says:
mo sooner do Get foot in Memphis than
see the Avalanche with my name IN flaming
head line over the report of a sermon delivered
here yesterday. which / recognize as a far away
vile"
aside from Mr. Chandler and myself, the
real question involved is, can we attend the
theater or act on the stage and be Chrstansf
think we do both It is my reading and
observation that the broad minded, thinking
people who make the church ilustrious and re-
specteG by the world those who encourage
the development of art and science and every
other force of civilization. Among the best
friends have ever HAD are enrolled Henry
Ward Beecher. DR.. Chaplin, DIR. Talmage, Dr.
Swing and Mr. Spurgeon. These eTere not
OF the opinion that my profession. rightly
good morals or religion. | remember
when a student in Italy that Pope Pius TX
daughter, take care TO pray as well as you
sing" Surely these rigid ministers have never
heard Beethoven's "Fidelio," that wonderful
story Of a wife's love and devotion to her hus-
band OF which the great composer said that
the leading role should only be sung by
woman OF noble nature and who had suffered
ness and the glorles of music and art, and it
would be dreary rule of life for most of
"All Methodists are not OF Mr.. Gamblers and
Dir. Erwin's way of thinking. There is Meth
odist Church In New York at whose services
ard entertainments have often assisted. and
the pretty little watch you the table
there is a present from the congregation. When
in St. Paul on Sunday always sing in the choir
of one of the Methodist churches. and the mem
bers seem to appreciate 1t.
''Some of the very best people 1 have ever
known were in my profession, and these intoler-
ant ministers could know of them, if they
would. There was Jenny Lind, for instance
who spent a fortune in doing good and Parepa
Rosa. Abb if ever woman got crown brighter
than the rest, that woman was Parepa. She
was a saint earth. And there are Modieska
and Mary Anderson, and Charlotte Cushman-
the list could be prolonged to almost endless
extent tell or,n. y0u' n.t. have seen zee da IN
votion duty that would shame some
of these excessively severe moralists. Among
the members of my chorus are girls who deny
themselves almost the necessarIss of life-such
sleeping-car berths, and numberless other
things that make travel northumberland all be-
cause they must send money home to keep the
WOLF from the door. One of them. young
Catholic girl, has this season denied herself
sleep. night after night. to nurse one OF the con-
tratos who was sick. And she sends every cent
to her mother and sister that can be spared from
her pressing needs.
eff such devotion others, noble struggle
against poverty, in the endeavor to make
honest living. if this isn't religion in practical
form. then don't know anything about it.
Il know the value of advertising, and employ
it literally in a legitimate way" said Miss Alb
bott in conclusion, "but am utterly incapable
of showing disrespect to religion. even to the
religious prejudices of other people; My
old Puritan forefathers probably burned
many witches and Quakers the
rest and have no doubt some of them were
saved. Besides, I ana under obligations to
church people which l could not far forget.
1t is to them l owe the opportunities for music |
al culture that made me capable of earning my |
living, and whatever of reputation 1 have gained |
is due in the first place their kindness. I |
have tried to shape my conduct to retain |
their esteem, and they have given me cause to |
think that my efforts have not been in vain"